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Marriage and Civil Partnership

You can get married or form your civil partnership in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea no matter where you live.

There are around 30 venues within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea which have been licensed for civil ceremonies.

The most famous of the venues within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and known worldwide, is of course our own Chelsea Old Town Hall. Designed in the late Victorian era and constructed in the early Edwardian era, the Chelsea Old Town Hall is a graceful building in the heart of Chelsea which houses six licensed rooms, namely the Brydon Room, the Rossetti Room, the Harrington Room; and the Main Hall, Small Halls, and Cadogan Suite.

Getting married? Follow these steps

1. CHOOSE A VENUE

Choose from one of the rooms at the Chelsea Old Town Hall, or any of our other approved venues

Ensure that you both attend your notice appointment at the latest 29 days before your ceremony date (71 days, if either of you is subject to immigration control) to gain legal clearance for your ceremony to proceed.

Choose a venue

Chelsea Old Town Hall

The most famous of the venues within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, and known worldwide, is of course our own Chelsea Old Town Hall. Designed in the late Victorian era and constructed in the early Edwardian era, the Chelsea Old Town Hall is a graceful building in the heat of Chelsea which houses six licensed rooms, namely the Brydon Room, the Rossetti Room, the Harrington

Other venues

Kensington and Chelsea is also home to a whole range of different venues for your ceremony. Some of our venues can offer facilities for parties of over 300 people whilst others are more suitable for smaller, intimate occasions. In order to be married or form your civil partnership at one of our approved venues, you must first make a booking with the venue of your choice before booking the registrars online.

Booking a ceremony

You can make a provisional booking for a ceremony at the Chelsea Old Town Hall – or other venues licensed for ceremonies in Kensington and Chelsea – online. Your ceremony booking is provisional until you’ve given notice of intention to marry or enter into civil partnership.

How and when to give notice of intent

Once you’ve booked your ceremony, it’s important to give notice of intention to marry or enter into civil partnership at the latest 29 days before the date of your ceremony (71 days before if either of you is subject to immigration control). Notice must be given by both of you in person at your local register office. If either of you is subject to immigration control, you can give notice at Kensington and Chelsea Register Office regardless of where you live in England and Wales.

What documents do I need?

When you attend your appointment to give notice of intention, you must each bring the following documents with you:

Your valid, original passport

Your immigration status document (if applicable)

A recent passport sized photograph each, if either of you is subject to immigration control

Proof of address in one of the following formats: a bank statement dated within the last month; a utility bill dated within the last three months; a council tax statement dated within the last year

If either of you has been married or in a civil partnership before, proof of how this ended e.g. your decree absolute of divorce or dissolution (or foreign equivalent); or death certificate of your former spouse and your last marriage / civil partnership certificate.

The statutory fee for giving notice is £35 per person, payable at the time of booking the appointment. There is an additional Home Office statutory referral fee of £24 for those subject to immigration control (payable at the appointment). There is also a statutory fee of £75 for clearance of foreign divorces or dissolutions (payable at the appointment).

All documents must be originals. Any documents not in English must be accompanied by a third party translation into English on which the translator certifies that it is a true and accurate translation of the original document seen by them.

Each person who does not speak English must attend the appointment with an interpreter.

Once you’ve given notice of intention, we ask you to pay the ceremony attendance fee for your ceremony and submit your ceremony choices form, so that we can ensure everything ready for our big day and your ceremony will be tailored to your exact wishes.

Legal requirements

You must both give notice of intention to marry or enter civil partnership at the latest 29 days before the date of your ceremony (71 days if either of you is subject to immigration control).

If you are both not subject to immigration control, you must give notice at your local register office.

If either of you is subject to immigration control, you can give notice at the Kensington and Chelsea Register Office regardless of where you live in England or Wales. Book an appointment.

If either of you doesn’t live in England or Wales, you will need to return to an address in England or Wales for eight days before giving notice.

Alternative arrangements are in place for those living in Scotland, Isle of Man, Jersey or Guernsey and its dependencies – please contact us at registrars@rbkc.gov.uk for further information.

Your notices are valid for one year after you have given notice, only for the people and venue specified. If you change your venue, you would need to give notice afresh. If your notices expire, you would need to give notice again.

Advice if residing abroad

In order to get married or have a civil partnership in England or Wales, the law requires you both to be resident in England or Wales. Resident means both of you having been at one address in England or Wales for at least eight days immediately prior to the date of your appointment to give notice of intention to marry or enter into civil partnership.

Therefore, if one or both of you are residing abroad, you will need to return to England or Wales for at least eight days in order to give notice of intention to marry or enter into civil partnership. Your marriage or civil partnership can proceed 29 days after you give notice (sometimes 71 days if either of you is a non-EEA national). After having given notice, you are both free to travel again before the date of your marriage or civil partnership. Your marriage authorities or civil partnership schedule is valid for one year from the date that you gave notice, for your chosen venue only. It is therefore your choice whether you remain in the UK after you’ve given notice until your ceremony, or whether you prefer to leave the UK to return later in the year for the ceremony itself.

Registrars cannot give immigration advice. Please note however that for non-EEA/Swiss nationals, you must ensure that you have the relevant visa for marriage or civil partnership before entering the UK ideally to give notice and definitely for the ceremony itself. If you don’t have indefinite leave to remain or diplomatic immunity, this would usually be a fiancé visa (for a non-EEA national residing abroad joining an EEA/Swiss partner in the UK or non-EEA/Swiss person with settled status in the UK) or a marriage visitor visa (if both of you are entering the UK solely for your marriage or civil partnership and will leave the UK again immediately afterwards). Both of these visas are usually valid for six months from the date of application, so if you obtain these visas to give notice and are planning to leave the UK after you give notice, make sure you return for your ceremony before the visa’s expiry. For more information visit the GOV.UK website.

We regret that there are no exceptions to this rule, even if you are a British citizen living abroad. You cannot give notice from abroad such as at a British embassy – this includes from Ireland or Northern Ireland. Special legal arrangements are in place if one of you is usually resident in Scotland, Isle of Man, Jersey or Guernsey and its dependencies; in these cases, please contact us at registrars@rbkc.gov.uk for further information.

How much our ceremonies cost

Fees and charges for Ceremonies 2019-20

Ceremonies

Harrington Room at Chelsea Old Town Hall

Monday – Thursday £225 (£100 Booking, £125 Attendance)

Friday £225 (£100 Booking, £125 Attendance)

Rossetti Room at Chelsea Old Town Hall

Monday – Thursday £325 (£100 Booking, £225 Attendance)

Friday £325 (£100 Booking, £225 Attendance)

Saturday £375 (£100 Booking, £275 Attendance)

Sunday £600 (£100 Booking, £500 Attendance)

Public Holiday £700 (£100 Booking, £600 Attendance)

Brydon Room at Chelsea Old Town Hall

Monday – Thursday £525 (£100 Booking, £425 Attendance)

Friday £525 (£100 Booking, £425 Attendance)

Saturday £650 (£100 Booking, £550 Attendance)

Sunday £750 (£100 Booking, £650 Attendance)

Public Holiday £850 (£100 Booking, £750 Attendance)

Other Ceremony Venues in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Service 2019-20

Monday – Thursday £565 (£100 Booking, £465 Attendance)

Friday £565 (£100 Booking, £465 Attendance)

Saturday £645 (£100 Booking, £545 Attendance)

Sunday £755 (£100 Booking, £655 Attendance)

Public Holiday £855 (£100 Booking, £755 Attendance)

Small Hall, Main Hall or Cadogan Suite at Chelsea Old town Hall

Monday – Friday £550 (£100 Booking, £450 Attendance)

Saturday £630 (£100 Booking, £530 Attendance)

Sunday £740 (£100 Booking, £640 Attendance)

Public Holiday £840 (£100 Booking, £740 Attendance)

Ceremony Changes Fee (applicable at and after second change) £25

Register Office Ceremonies (Non-Refundable Booking Fee) £46

Marriage or Civil Partnership Certificate £11

Fees and charges for Ceremonies 2020-21

Ceremonies

Harrington Room at Chelsea Old Town Hall

Monday – Friday £230 (£100 Booking, £130 Attendance)

Friday £225 (£100 Booking, £125 Attendance)

Rossetti Room at Chelsea Old Town Hall

Monday – Friday £350 (£100 Booking, £250 Attendance)

Saturday £400 (£100 Booking, £300 Attendance)

Sunday £625 (£100 Booking, £525 Attendance)

Public Holiday £725 (£100 Booking, £625 Attendance)

Brydon Room at Chelsea Old Town Hall

Monday – Friday £535 (£100 Booking, £435 Attendance)

Saturday £660 (£100 Booking, £560 Attendance)

Sunday £760 (£100 Booking, £660 Attendance)

Public Holiday £860 (£100 Booking, £760 Attendance)

Mayor's Parlour at Chelsea Old Town Hall

Service From 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2021

Saturday £650 (£100 Booking, £550 Attendance)

Other Ceremony Venues in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea

Service 2019-20

Monday – Thursday £565 (£100 Booking, £465 Attendance)

Friday £565 (£100 Booking, £465 Attendance)

Saturday £645 (£100 Booking, £545 Attendance)

Sunday £755 (£100 Booking, £655 Attendance)

Public Holiday £855 (£100 Booking, £755 Attendance)

Small Hall, Main Hall or Cadogan Suite at Chelsea Old town Hall

Monday – Friday £550 (£100 Booking, £450 Attendance)

Saturday £630 (£100 Booking, £530 Attendance)

Sunday £740 (£100 Booking, £640 Attendance)

Public Holiday £840 (£100 Booking, £740 Attendance)

Ceremony Changes Fee (applicable at and after second change) £25

Register Office Ceremonies (Non-Refundable Booking Fee) £46

Marriage or Civil Partnership Certificate £11

Other services

Converting a Civil Partnership into a Marriage

The Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Act 2013 provides for couples currently in a civil partnership to be able to convert this into a marriage.

If you wish to convert your civil partnership to marriage you will only be able to do so if your civil partnership took place in England or Wales (or overseas in a British consulate or armed forces base where it was registered according to the laws of England and Wales) on or after Monday 5 December 2005, and as long as your civil partnership has not been dissolved.

There are two different types of Civil Partnership conversions: a one stage procedure and a two stage procedure.

Stage 1

Stage 2

Procedure

The one stage procedure is when you have a ‘conversion’ appointment in which the ‘conversion declaration’ is prepared and signed. There is no ceremony as part of Stage 1 however you may opt to say an official ‘Declaration Wording’ to each other if you so wish.

The two stage procedure is when you have a ‘conversion’ appointment in which the ‘conversion declaration’ is prepared. On a subsequent date you then attend an approved venue where you sign the conversion declaration and have a non-legal Conversion Ceremony to celebrate your new status.

Cost

£45 plus £11 per certificate

£27, plus cost of ceremony, plus £11 per certificate

You may attend your ‘conversion’ appointment in a Register Office of your choice and this Register Office does not have to be the same one in which your civil partnership took place. This means that even if your civil partnership did not take place within the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea you will still be able to have your conversion here.

When you attend your ‘conversion’ appointment both of you will need to be present and to bring with you your passports, proof of your addresses and your legal civil partnership certificate. During this appointment the ‘conversion declaration’ will be prepared for signing.

Your civil partnership becomes a marriage when both of you sign the ‘conversion declaration’. This declaration confirms that you have not dissolved your civil partnership and that you both wish to convert your civil partnership into a marriage.

Once you have signed your ‘conversion declaration’ your marriage will be deemed to have existed since the date of your civil partnership.

Please note that a conversion is not a marriage ceremony, although you will be issued with a marriage certificate to confirm that your civil partnership has been converted into a marriage. If you choose the Stage 2 procedure you will be able to have a ceremony as part of your celebrations where you may say words to each other and exchange rings.

If you are using the Stage 1 procedure you will be issued your marriage certificates at the end of your ‘conversion’ appointment.

If you are using the Stage 2 procedure your marriage certificates will be available for you to collect from the Kensington and Chelsea Register Office on the next working day.

Terms and Conditions

1. Ceremonies terms and conditions

These terms and conditions accompany your ceremony booking. By booking a ceremony you accept that it is subject to the terms and conditions as set out below in their entirety. Terms and conditions are intended to be informative and helpful. They will assist you in planning, preparing for and attending your ceremony.

If you have a query or are unsure about the meaning of any terms and conditions please contact the Register Office and we will be happy to assist you with your query.

1.1 A ceremony (for the purpose of these terms and conditions) is defined as a:

a. Marriage Ceremony

b. Civil Partnership Ceremony

c. Civil Partnership to Marriage Conversion Ceremony

d. Renewal of Vows Ceremony

e. Naming Ceremony

f. Commitment Ceremony

1.2 A non-refundable deposit (currently £100.00) must be paid at the time of the booking to secure your chosen ceremony date in our diary.

1.3 If you book the ceremony less than a month before it is due to take place then full payment must be made at the time of the booking.

1.4 The balance of the ceremony fee is payable either at the time of the booking or one month prior to the date of the ceremony. A full list of fees for ceremonies can be found at www.rbkc.gov.uk/registrars.

1.5 It is the responsibility of the couple to ensure that they complete the required legal preliminaries to the ceremony correctly (where they are required), and within the statutory time limits. These legal preliminaries do not need to have been completed at the time when the ceremony is booked. For more details about legal requirements see below:

1.6 Legal Preliminaries to the Marriage Ceremony – In order to marry couples must give notice of intention to marry. For more information please go to our website at www.rbkc.gov.uk/registrars.

1.7 Legal Preliminaries to the Civil Partnership Ceremony – In order to form a Civil Partnership couples must give notice of intention to form a civil partnership. For more information please go to our website at www.rbkc.gov.uk/registrars.

1.8 Legal Preliminaries to the Civil Partnership to Marriage Conversion Ceremony. You must have arranged to attend an appointment at a Register Office on a date before the ceremony date in order to make your declaration of intention to convert your civil partnership to marriage. You will need to provide the appropriate documentation at this appointment. For more information please go to our website at www.rbkc.gov.uk/registrars.

1.9 Preliminaries to a Renewal of Vows Ceremony. One of the parties renewing vows must attend the Register Office in person before the date of the ceremony to provide copies of your marriage certificate and both your passports.

1.10 If it is alleged that a legal impediment to a marriage or civil partnership exists, the Superintendent Registrar has a legal duty to investigate before the ceremony can take place. Kensington and Chelsea Registration Service cannot be held accountable for any resulting delay, postponement, cancellation of your ceremony and/or financial loss that may occur.

1.11 If either party intending to marry has previously gone through a foreign divorce/dissolution of a previous marriage/civil partnership and/or decide to book a ceremony against the advice of Kensington and Chelsea Registration Service, before the divorce/dissolution has been approved, no refunds or financial compensation will be given if the marriage cannot take place due to processing times or decision of the Home Office, the Registrar General or another third party.

1.12 Both parties must be available to meet with the Registrars at the ceremony venue at least 15 minutes before the ceremony start time. In the event of late arrival your ceremony will not be able to extend over the time at which your ceremony/room booking was scheduled to finish. As a result the length and content of your ceremony may be reduced.

1.13 Kensington and Chelsea Registration Service are not responsible for any delay, postponement, cancellation of your ceremony, or financial loss caused by the late arrival of the couple or of guests. The registrars attending your ceremony have other ceremonies to attend and cannot allow the lateness of one ceremony to impact upon the start time of another. Ceremonies must start at the booked time.

1.14 The marriage ceremony must be legally compliant and of a dignified nature. Kensington and Chelsea Registration Service have the final decision on the wording and content of the ceremony.

1.15 Both parties to the ceremony must meet the criteria set out below and must be free and willing to undertake the ceremony

1.16 It is a legal requirement that the registrar must stop your ceremony from proceeding if:

Either of the parties to a marriage or civil partnership appear to be acting under duress;

Either of the parties to a marriage or civil partnership appear to be unable to understand the nature and purport of the ceremony due to intoxication;

Either of the parties to a marriage or civil partnership appear to lack the mental capacity to understand the nature and purport of the ceremony;

A lawful objection is made before or during the ceremony.

1.17 In order to be married the parties to the marriage or civil partnership must not have already been through any form of marriage which is legally recognised or is capable of being legally recognised. This applies to those marriages or civil partnerships taking place in the UK or in any other country. The exception to this is a previous marriage or civil partnership which ended by legal means such as divorce, dissolution, annulment or by death of the other party. If you are unsure as to the status of any previous ceremony you have participated in then please contact the Registrars before booking your ceremony.

1.18 Kensington and Chelsea Registration service will allocate staff to attend your ceremony. The attendance of any individual registrar cannot be guaranteed. It is not possible to choose which Registrar will attend your ceremony.

1.19 At your marriage/civil partnership ceremony you must provide two witnesses who are over the age of 16 and can speak and understand English. Kensington and Chelsea Registration Service staff cannot act as witnesses. It is your duty to provide witnesses for your ceremony. No more than two witnesses per marriage or civil partnership is permitted.

1.20 It is an offence under section 25(1) of the Immigration Act 1971 to enter into a marriage to help facilitate a stay in the United Kingdom. If a ceremony or appointment does not go ahead due to UK Visa and Immigration intervention, no refund shall be payable or financial compensation given for any losses incurred.

1.21 If your ceremony is at a licensed venue other than Chelsea Old Town Hall it is your responsibility to book and pay for that venue. The Attendance Fee secures the attendance of the Registrars to conduct the ceremony only.

1.22 Late guests to ceremonies will be admitted as soon as is possible in keeping with the continuity of the ceremony. Late guests will not be able to act as witnesses.

1.23 If the ceremony does not take place due to the application of any of the above terms and conditions the Attendance Fee will be refunded however the non-refundable Booking Fee will not be refunded.

1.24 It is a legal requirement that no food or drink - including alcohol - is permitted in any licensed wedding venue (including those at Chelsea Old Town Hall) during the ceremony and for an hour before the ceremony takes place.

1.25. Animals are not permitted within Chelsea Old Town Hall with the exception of assistance animals.

1.26 Any gifts, flowers or general goods delivered to, or left at, the Chelsea Old Town Hall in conjunction with your ceremony are not the responsibility of the staff at the Chelsea Old Town Hall, nor will the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea be liable for any loss or damage to the same.

1.27 The use of bio-degradable confetti is permitted on the steps on the outside of the Chelsea Old Town Hall leading from the Ceremony Rooms but not in the rooms or any part of the interior of the building. The throwing of other items, including but not limited to, rice and pasta is not permitted.

1.28 The Programme of Events must be returned one week before your ceremony. Any readings, ring words, additional vows or music not included in the pre-approved list must be approved. Any foreign readings or music lyrics must be translated. Failure to return the Programme of Events on time may result in some of the requested elements of the ceremony being excluded.

1.29 Live music is welcomed during ceremonies but it must not be so loud as to disrupt other ceremonies or cause a disturbance on the street. Musicians are not counted within the number of guests.

1.30 Disabled access is available however for the comfort of disabled guests they should arrive 15 minutes before the ceremony is due to begin and should give prior notification.

1.31 A waiting area is provided for guests and couples prior to the commencement of their ceremony. The waiting area may need to be shared by guests of more than one ceremony.

1.32 Guests are requested to keep noise to a minimum outside the Ceremony Rooms.

1.33 If either of both party to the marriage or civil partnership do not speak or understand English they must bring an interpreter to the ceremony who will sign as a witness.

Ceremonies at Venues not approved for Marriage or Civil Partnership

1.34 Registrars are able to conduct ceremonies at venues which are not approved for Marriage or Civil Partnership if the following applies:

1.35 If you have a ceremony at a venue not approved for Marriage or Civil Partnership then this will not be a legal marriage. You will be required to have a legal register office marriage (parties to the marriage and two witnesses) before the ceremony.

1.36 Registrars must be booked to attend the ceremony and the booking fee and attendance fee paid.

1.37 It is your responsibility to book and pay for the venue. The Attendance fee secures the attendance of the Registrars to conduct the ceremony only.

1.38 A health and safety assessment will need to be carried out at venues not approved for Marriage and Civil Partnership before the date of the ceremony. If the venue does not meet health and safety requirements then the ceremony may not be able to proceed.

2. Booking, rescheduling and cancellation policy

2.1 A Booking Fee for ceremonies is payable at the time of booking. This Booking Fee is non-refundable in all circumstances. If a Booking Fee is not paid the ceremony, room and/or service will not be reserved.

2.2 The Attendance Fee for the ceremony is to be paid one month before the ceremony or earlier. Ceremonies may not proceed without full payment.

2.3 Ceremonies can be rescheduled once without charge. The new date of your ceremony will be subject to availability. Please provide as much notice as possible in order to help secure your preferred new ceremony date. An administration fee of £25 will be charged for any/each subsequent rescheduling. Rescheduling includes changing rooms and times within the same date.

2.4 Ceremonies can only be rescheduled to a different date, time and room within your chosen licensed venue and subject to availability. Ceremonies cannot be moved to a different licensed venue without new notices of intention being completed within the time legally required for the giving of such notice.

2.5 If the new ceremony date, room or time incurs a higher fee the difference must be paid at the time of rescheduling. If your alternative date or room has a lower fee the difference will be refunded.

2.6 Ceremonies can be rescheduled in writing, by telephone or by personal attendance at Chelsea Old Town Hall (within our opening hours). Only parties to the ceremony (e.g. the bride and groom) can reschedule and must provide their password in order to do so.

2.7 Ceremonies may be cancelled in writing, by telephone or by personal attendance at Chelsea Old Town Hall within our opening hours. Only parties to the ceremony (e.g. the bride and groom) can reschedule and must provide their password in order to do so.

2.8 If cancelling or rescheduling a ceremony full details must be provided including the date, time and venue and your full names. It is also helpful if you are able to supply the date of payment and/or the authorisation code number from the payment receipt, payment reference and method of payment.

2.9 The Booking Fee is non-refundable in all circumstances.

2.10 The full Attendance Fee, less the Booking Fee paid (currently £100), is refundable should the ceremony not proceed.

2.11 Cancellation and rescheduling requests should be sent to registrars@rbkc.gov.uk. Please put ‘cancellation’ or ‘reschedule’ in the subject line of your email.

3. General terms and conditions

3.1 In the event of an emergency, disaster or extreme weather conditions Kensington and Chelsea Registration Service will do everything it can to ensure your ceremony takes place on your chosen day and at the allotted time.

3.2. Kensington and Chelsea Registration Service cannot be held responsible and is not liable for any consequences, financial or otherwise, for a ceremony which has to be cancelled or delayed as a result of such events, which are outside our control.

3.3 The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea is not responsible for the behaviour or actions of members of the public using the premises of the Chelsea Old Town Hall.

3.4 All electrical equipment supplied by the Royal Borough is to be operated only by staff of the Kensington and Chelsea Registration Service. Any person not a member of staff using the equipment does so at their own risk.

3.5 Customers ceremonies and their guests may not occupy the ceremony rooms at The Chelsea Old Town Hall, earlier than the time booked, and must vacate the room at the end of the period for which the room was booked.

3.6 For fire safety the maximum capacity of all our rooms may not be exceeded. If the number of guest exceeds the capacity of the room some guests will be excluded.

3.7 Should the fire alarm be sounded before, after or during a ceremony the premises must be vacated immediately by the nearest fire exit. With regards to ceremony attendees who have special accessibility needs or requirements (such as wheelchair users), please note that it will be the responsibility of the persons who have booked the ceremony to make sure that there is an evacuation plan in place for these attendees in the event of an emergency.

3.8 Ceremonies can only take place in venues that have been licensed for this purpose. Kensington and Chelsea Registration Service cannot take responsibility for any failure on the part of licensed venues in relation to the provision of their services, additional services, or arrangements. Licensed venues cannot allow or undertake services and arrangements other than those permitted in their ceremonies licence.